"Well, 'ooever it belongs to, they don't live 'ere, an' we can keep a look-out in case any one comes. Go on, ring up ole Eustace. You won't find a better place." Alf rubbed his Button. "See that barn, Eustace?" he asked, before the djinn had time to begin his usual formula. "Well, put us a real nice bath inside it." "O Master, behold, it is done!" Eustace vanished, looking pleased. "Real nice baths" were entirely in accordance with the Aladdin tradition. The two Tommies turned towards the barn, and stood lost in amazement. The building was outwardly as dilapidated as before, but inside it was all light and color and perfumed magnificence. Marble pillars veiled by silken hangings stood just inside the broken mud walls, and through the hangings could be seen just so much as to hint at further splendors beyond. "Lumme!" said Alf, as soon as he could speak. "Why is 'e always so blinkin' 'olesale? 'E'll be givin' the 'ole show away, one o' these days. What's to be done now, Bill? 'Ave 'im come back again an'[Pg 90] make 'im clear away the 'ole caboodle, I s'pose?" [Pg 90] "I s'pose so," said Bill reluctantly. "I s'pose so. Seems a pity, but ... 'ullo!" He broke off. The silken hangings had been suddenly drawn back by two enormous negroes, clad in sumptuous and glittering uniforms; a spacious hall was thus revealed, in which a crowd of beautiful female slaves in marvelous though rather scanty oriental draperies was waiting. "Goo' Lord! The 'Ippodrome Chorus!" said Grant in an awed voice, his protests forgotten. The most beautiful of the slaves came forward, and paused just inside the pillared entrance, a smile of invitation upon her lips. "'Ere," said Bill. "This is goin' to be a bit of all right. We mustn't miss this. One of us'll 'ave to keep guard while the other 'as 'is bath. Toss for 'oo goes first, see?—You call!" "'Eads," said Alf. "Tails it is," replied Bill with great satisfaction. "I'm goin' to bath first. 'Arf an hour each, see?" He entered the building, and the slaves clustered about him. Then the negroes drew the curtains, and Alf saw him no more.
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